The maker of London's black cabs, which was rescued from administration by the Chinese car company Geely, is to double its workforce as it aims to restart production of the taxis in a matter of months.

The European Commission is set to block Ryanair's proposed takeover of Aer Lingus, according to the Irish budget airline, in what would be its third failed attempt to take control of its smaller rival.

Margins at the UK's second-largest oil refinery shot up towards the end of last year, according to its owner Essar Energy. Essar's Stanlow plant in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, saw gross refining margin increase to $5.59 a barrel in its third quarter. It was only $2.45 a barrel a year ago.

One is an all-American lager, known for its blockbusting advertising; the other, a Czech brew that while perhaps not as famous, is more of a favourite with beer aficionados. Today it emerged that British drinkers will continue to be able to choose between the two rather different Budweisers, after the world's largest brewer, Anheuser-Busch InBev, lost its latest attempt to take control of the trademark.